Short Answer: Write the name of the religion being described in the left hand column and sketch the symbol.
Matching: Put the letter of statement in the empty box that best fills out this chart.
Religious Symbol
Origins & History
Adherents (approx.)
God(s) and Universe
Human Situation and Life's Purpose
Afterlife
Practices
Texts
2000 BC India Indus people
900 million
Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but are able to escape. Purpose is to gain release from rebirth, or at least a better rebirth.
Reincarnation until gain enlightenment.
Yoga, meditation, worship, devotion to a god or goddess, pilgrimage to holy cities, live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role).
1300 BC Isreal Israelites
One God
Obey God's commandments, live ethically. Focus is more on this life than the next.
Not historically emphasized. Beliefs vary from no afterlife to shadowy existence to the World to Come (similar to heaven).
Circumcision at birth, bar/bat mitzvah at adulthood. Synagogue services on Saturdays. No pork or other non-kosher foods. Holidays related to historical events.
Torah Talmud
520 BC NE India Buddha
360 million
Variable: atheistic, polytheistic. Nothing is permanent.
Purpose is to avoid suffering and gain enlightenment and release from cycle of rebirth, or at least attain a better rebirth by gaining merit.
Reincarnation (understood differently than in Hinduism, with no surviving soul) until gain enlightenment & merge with God.
2 billion
One God who is a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
All have sinned and are thereby separated from God. Salvation is through faith in Christ and, for some, sacraments and good works.
Eternal heaven or hell (or temporary purgatory).
Prayer, Bible study, baptism, Eucharist (Last Supper), church on Sundays, major holidays focused on life of Jesus.
Old and New Testaments
622 AD, Saudi Arabia Muhammad
1.3 billion
One God
Paradise or Hell.
Five Pillars: Faith, Prayer, Alms, Pilgrimage, Fasting. Mosque services on Fridays. Ablutions before prayer. No alcohol or pork. Holidays related to the pilgrimage and fast of Ramadan.
Qur'an (Scripture); Hadith (tradition)
1500 AD, Punjab, India. Guru Nanak
23 million
One God
Overcome the self, align life with will of God, and become a "saint soldier," fighting for good.
Prayer and meditation on God's name, services at temple, turban and five Ks. Balance work, worship, and charity. No monasticism or asceticism.
Adi Granth (Sri Guru Granth Sahib)
A. Reincarnation until resolve karma then merge with God.
B. 30 AD, Israel. Jesus
C. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana.
D. Humans must submit to the will of God to gain Paradise after death.
E. The least number of adherents of these six religions: 14 million.
F. Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others.
G. One Supreme Reality manifested in many gods and goddesses.
Matching: Put the letter of statement in the empty box that best fills out this chart.
Symbol
India
Indus people
Isreal
Israelites
NE India
Buddha
Saudi Arabia
Muhammad
Guru Nanak
A. Reincarnation until resolve karma then merge with God.
B. 30 AD, Israel. Jesus
C. The Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana.
D. Humans must submit to the will of God to gain Paradise after death.
E. The least number of adherents of these six religions: 14 million.
F. Mahayana sutras like the Lotus Sutra; others.
G. One Supreme Reality manifested in many gods and goddesses.
H. Meditation, mantras, mandalas.